President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed into law an agreement that maintains visa exemptions for Brazilians traveling to countries in the United States. Schengen Areain Europe. The measure guarantees entry for short-term trips without the need for a visa.
The text had been approved by the National Congress in 2025 and was signed into law on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
According to the agreement, Brazilians will be able to stay for up to 90 consecutive days in the 29 countries that make up the Schengen Area within a 180-day period. The same rule applies to European citizens traveling to Brazil.
The length of stay will now be counted in days.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the new text precisely defines the maximum permitted stay in Europe.
According to the ministry, the agreement "provides an exact definition of the maximum permitted stay (on European soil), now counted in days, thus making reciprocal travel safer for nationals of both contracting parties, as it definitively eliminates any possible misinterpretations by the authorities of one country in counting the total number of days of stay of a foreign traveler."
The change replaces the previous reference of three months every six months. Now, the limit will be counted in consecutive days, which clarifies the calculation of the permitted period.
According to the Brazilian government, the change aims to avoid confusion or problems for travelers during their stay in Europe.
The agreement has been in place for over a decade.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the reciprocity agreement between Brazil and the European Union for visa exemption has been in effect for more than ten years.
This rule applies to short-term tourism or business trips. It does not apply to long stays, work, or study.
The Schengen Area brings together most of the countries of the European Union and allows free movement between its members.
Electronic authorization ETIAS comes into effect in 2026.
Despite the visa exemption, Brazilians will need to obtain electronic authorization to enter Europe starting in the last quarter of 2026.
The document is part of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, known as ETIAS.
Authorization must be requested before boarding. The fee is €20 per person. Minors are exempt from the fee.
The ETIAS will be valid for up to three years or until the traveler's passport expires.
